With careful staging, Obama backs Clinton, nudges Sanders

U.S. President Barack Obama officially endorsed Hillary Clinton’s White House bid on Thursday and called for the Democratic Party to unite behind her after a protracted battle with Bernie Sanders for the party nomination. Hours later, Vice President Joe Biden said “God willing”, Clinton would be the next president. Sen.

On Tuesday, he responded to Obama’s endorsement by tweeting: “Obama just endorsed Crooked Hillary”. She also is being floated as a potential vice presidential pick for Clinton. Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s lawyer and chief of staff during her tenure as secretary of state, was also seen leaving the event. She said she understood why it’s important to give Sanders and his backers time to heal.

Obama, who enjoys rising approval ratings as he nears the end of eight years in office, will appear with Clinton on the campaign trail next week in Wisconsin.

Her most vigorous rhetoric came as she reminded voters that she’s not Donald Trump, whom she said “wants to win by stoking fear and rubbing salt in wounds”.

“I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office”, Xinhua quoted Obama as saying in the video posted on Clinton’s Facebook page. “And I can’t wait to get out there and campaign with Hillary”.

Trump assailed the endorsement on Twitter: “He wants four more years of Obama-but nobody else does!”

In response to a good day for the Democrats, the Republican Party played its best cards in return, seeking to whip up voter fatigue at the rare prospect of a third consecutive presidential term for a single political party that Clinton’s election would represent.

The president sought to reassure Democrats that Mrs Clinton shares their values and is ready for the job.

Clinton thanked Obama for his support.

Leaders on Capitol Hill underscored Obama’s message. She reached the 2,383 pledged delegates and superdelegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, according to an Associated Press release before the June 7 primaries in California, New Jersey, New Mexico and three other states. First, however, they will need to accept the unforgiving math: The majority of people who took part in the primaries and caucuses picked Clinton over Sanders.

“I look forward to meeting with [Clinton] in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump“, Sanders told reporters after the meeting with Obama.

Obama’s long-expected endorsement, delivered via an online video, included a forceful call for unity and for “embracing” Sanders’ economic message, which has fired up much of the liberal wing of his party.

We talk to both Clinton and Sanders supporters about the path to November.

One test for Clinton, then, was whether she would make that process easier or harder for the Sanders camp – whether she would demand a concession speech, or criticize the senator for hesitating, as some of her aides had already done. Thus, many Christian conservatives have aligned with Trump since he won the Republican nomination, not because he supports them on policy, or because he says things they like to hear, but because Christian conservatives generally support the Republican ticket. “We will not allow Donald Trump to become president of the United States, but we know our mission is more than defeating Donald Trump; it is transforming our country”.

Some top Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin of IL, have said Warren is among the people Clinton should consider as a possible running mate.